Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. O'Sullivan. I have one question for the SEAI and Gas Networks Ireland. Mr. Scheer referred in his opening statement to the University of Manchester research that indicates that by 2035, the substantial use of fossil fuels, including natural gas, within the EU's energy strategy will be incompatible with the temperature commitments in the Paris Agreement. Given that 2035 is only 17 years away and we need to start reaching our targets, as well as the unlikelihood of gas being discovered here in the future, would it not be better to ban the exploration of gas or oil? I ask the witnesses to bank that question for now.